Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Carolina (English) No 252
CCCCC AA RRRRR OOOO LL II NN N AA
CC AA A RR R OO O LL II NNN N AA A
CC AA A RRRRR OO O LL II NN N N AA A
CC AAAAAA RR R OO O LL II NN NN AAAAAA
CCCCC AA A RR R OOOO LLLLLL II NN N AA A
STUDENTS' E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECH REPUBLIC
Faculty of Social Science of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail: CAROLINA@cuni.cz
tel: (+4202) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+4202) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 252, Friday, June 20, 1997.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (June 11 - 18)
President Sees Czech NATO Membership as Almost Certain
President Vaclav Havel said on his weekly radio program Talks from
Lany June 15 that American President Bill Clinton's mention of the Czech
Republic being one of the first three post-Communist countries to enter
NATO is almost a confirmation of the Czech Republic's entry. The other
two countries Clinton indicated were Poland and Hungary. Discussing the
prepared budget cuts, Havel commended how the army had been minimally
affected, saying that defense was one of the Czech Republic's basic
priorities.
The Institute for Public Opinion Research (IVVM) somewhat quashed
the new enthusiasm when it announced findings that only 45 per cent of
Czech respondents support NATO membership, while 33 per cent oppose it
and 22 per cent were of no clear opinion.
Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS)
blames the Social Democrats for the negative opinions. He appeared on
the TV NOVA debate program "7 or seven days" with Social Democrat (CSSD)
Chairman Milos Zeman, who replied that he is "for entry into NATO and
passionately for entry into the European Union." Zieleniec also reminded
him that CSSD support for the alliance is nothing compared to that of
ODS. Zieleniec countered that the CSSD approach was off-base, always
starting comments with phrases like "referendum" and "nuclear weapons."
The foreign minister said that open statements would change statistics
showing that 83 per cent of ODS voters support NATO as opposed to less
than 30 per cent of CSSD voters.
Although the Social Democrats support NATO entry in their party
platform, they do so on the conditions of not having nuclear weapons and
foreign troops stationed in the Czech Republic.
Pavel Novak/Andrea Snyder
Klaus Lectures in London
Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus admitted June 17 that in relation to the
recent problems with the Czech crown, he had underestimated foreign
speculators on the hard-currency markets. The BBC interviewed Klaus
following his lecture at the London School of Economics.
Klaus also paid a short private visit to the European Bank for
Research and Development and met with financial institutions Flemings
and Nomura.
Milan Smid/Andrea Snyder
Voter Trust Down
Only four out of every 100 Czechs have faith in both the Parliament
and the newly reconstructed government, reported the Institute for
Public Opinion Research, noting that this represents a record low.
Sociologists say that that one-fourth of youths and businessmen
interviewed are turning away from the Cabinet. Only 19 per cent of those
polled believe in Parliament and 20 per cent believe in the Senate.
Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus' Cabinet fell in faith by 13 per cent, to
22 per cent of those polled. The coalition still has greater support
than the opposition. The only exception to all this lack of faith is
President Vaclav Havel, who holds the trust of more than two-thirds of
respondents. A Czech Press Agency graph shows that his poll results are
even up by three per cent. Fifty-seven per cent said that the
government's presentation of itself was the main reason of the drop in
confidence.
Simona Malkovska/Andrea Snyder
30 Per Cent of Voters Support Social Democrats
The Center for Empirical Research (STEM) showed that the opposition
Social Democrats (CSSD) jumped over the 30-per-cent mark in voter
confidence at the beginning of June.
Although the ruling Civic Democratic Party (ODS), CSSD's greatest
rival, trails them by 9 per cent, they have not fallen any farther since
the Social Democrats leapfrogged them in the popularity polls in April.
Interior Minister Jan Ruml (ODS) said it is a sign "that we have
survived a deep political crisis."
The Christian Democrats rose to the 13 per cent mark, while the the
Civic Democratic Alliance fell from 11 per cent to 10 per cent.
Other parties have not seen much change in voter preference - the
Communists managed 9.3 per cent, and the neo-Fascist Republicans logged
in at 4.9 per cent.
The STEM poll was taken June 1-8, after the crown's fall and budget
cuts, but before the government's dramatic vote of confidence.
Pavel Novak/Andrea Snyder
Popularity Queen Petra Buzkova
A June poll by the Center for Empirical Research (STEM) showed many
changes on the politician popularity chart, but not with leading lady
Petra Buzkova. Buzkova, vice chairwoman of Parliament and the Social
Democrats (CSSD), has been the most popular Czech politician since
March, staying in favor with more than 75 per cent of respondents.
Stanislav Gross, chairman of the CSSD parliamentary club, follows with
62 per cent. Third place is held by Foreign Minister and Civic
Democratic Party (ODS) Vice Chairman Josef Zieleniec with 61 per cent.
Social Democrat Chairman Chairman Milos Zeman landed fourth with 10 per
cent less, and is just ahead of Christian Democrat Chairman Josef Lux,
who stands at 50 per cent. On the list of 17 other politicians, Interior
Minister Jan Ruml (ODS) made the greatest improvement over the month,
with an 11-per-cent increase to 45 per cent. The increase may be
attributed to his decision not to make himself a sacrificial lamb during
the government crisis. New ODS Finance Minister Ivan Pilip fell the
most, by 16 per cent to 16 per cent, to take the lowest rung on the
list. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus took 14th, with 34 per cent. STEM
reports that his popularity has fallen by 15 per cent since January.
A poll conducted by the Institute for Public Opinion Research showed
that he holds favor from only 29 per cent of those polled.
Libuse Kolouchova/Andrea Snyder
Havel Notes Increase in Xenophobia
President Vaclav Havel and his wife Dagmar June 14 attended the
solemn commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the Lidice tragedy (in
June 1942, after the assassination of the Nazi leader of the Czech lands
Reinhard Heydrich, the communities of Lidice and Lezaky were
exterminated. Before the tragedy Lidice had 493 residents, though only
144 women and 17 children survived the war, nine of which were found in
the two years following the war).
During his speech, Havel emphasized that "in different places on our
continent, in the west, in the east and in the center of Europe are
voices raised which speak for nationalistic hate and spread xenophobic
attitudes. We cannot allow them to have the chance to decide the future
of Europe."
The president also expressed his fears whether the annual
commemorations of the Lidice tragedy are not becoming just a ritual with
no sense of the tragedy s horror and perversity.
Libuse Kolouchova/Sofia Karakeva
Grusa's Health Improves
The condition of Education Minister Jiri Grusa has improved and he
was transferred from the Intensive Care Unit to a special room June 17,
according to L. Lednicky of the surgical department of the Central Army
Hospital in Prague-Stresovice.
During Grusa s stay in the Intensive Care Unit there was an embargo
on information about his condition, and it was impossible even for his
colleagues to maintain contact with him. According to Lednicky, the
minister is feeling better and by the end of the week should be
released.
Libuse Kolouchova/Sofia Karakeva
ECONOMY
Bank Privatization under Control
Parliament Budget Committee Chairman Jozef Wagner said he might
insist on delaying the privatization of the Investment and Postal Bank
(Investicni a Postovni Banka, IPB), to prevent the sale of the state's
share under its real value. During the vote of confidence in the
government, Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus promised Wagner that he will
present a plan for bank privatization to Parliament. The state still
owns a 35-per-cent share in IPB, a 48-per-cent share in the Commerce
Bank (Komercni banka), a 66-per-cent share in the Czechoslovak Trade
Bank (Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka) and a 45-per-cent share in the
Czech Savings Bank (Ceska sporitelna).
Milan Smid/Matej Cerny
Crown Strengthens, Loans Still Expensive
The exchange rate of the Czech crown reached its highest level since
the crisis at the end of May. Although the German mark was sold for only
18.47 crowns June 18, the crown's future is still uncertain. The Czech
Central Bank is expected to lower key interest rates soon, which may
influence the position of the crown on currency markets.
Milan Smid/Matej Cerny
Aero Vodochody Introduces New Czech Aircraft
Aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody, in the presence of Defense
Minister Miloslav Vyborny and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Jiri
Nekvasil, unveiled June 12 the prototype of its new multipurpose L-159
aircraft, which should become the backbone of the Czech military's air
force. Vyborny labeled the plane economic and compatible with NATO
models.
The Czech Army is scheduled to buy 72 L-159s in 1999, according to
a contract guaranteed by the government. Vyborny indicated the purchase
price would be about 25 billion crowns. Aero management said more than
10 countries had already expressed interest in the aircraft.
Lida Truneckova/Michael Bluhm
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from June 20)
country currency
----------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 23.962
Belgium 100 BEF 89.784
Great Britain 1 GBP 52.618
Denmark 1 DKK 4.867
Finland 1 FIM 6.189
France 1 FRF 5.491
Ireland 1 IEP 48.324
Italy 1000 ITL 18.917
Japan 100 JPY 28.316
Canada 1 CAD 23.015
Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.784
Hungary 100 HUF 17.267
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.465
Norway 1 NOK 4.426
New Zealand 1 NZD 22.039
Poland 1 PLN 9.882
Portugal 100 PTE 18.399
Austria 1 ATS 2.632
Greece 100 GRD 11.723
Slovakia 100 SKK 95.814
Germany 1 DEM 18.530
Spain 100 ESP 21.967
Sweden 1 SEK 4.145
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.153
USA 1 USD 32.045
ECU 1 XEU 36.251
IMF 1 XDR 44.607
SPORT
Slavia Wins Soccer Union Cup for First Time
Slavia Praha defeated Dukla Praha 1-0 on an overtime goal in the
finale of the Czech-Moravian Soccer Union Cup June 15, and will take
part in the second-most prestigious European soccer club competition
- Cup Winners Cup.
Although Dukla Praha was considered an outsider, the favorite Slavia
Praha was not able to score a goal until the 101st minute, when
Horvath's kick ricocheted off Vacha's head and past Dukla's powerless
goalie.
Slavia Praha's victory was its first in the Czech-Moravian Soccer
Union Cup.
Pavel Novak/Milan Smid
WEATHER
A look at the cloudy, gray sky seems to say summer took a vacation
this week. Showers and constantly threatening thunderstorms have
depressed the temperature to between 20 degrees and 25 degrees
Celsius/68 degrees to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, which would otherwise be
a welcome change from the 30-degree-Celsius/86-degree-Fahrenheit heat
wave which reigned all last week. We, the students, however, will not
allow our mood to be ruined by any weather and are taking pleasure from
this beautiful time of ripening cherries and strawberries, and we are
beginning to pack our backpacks and bags for vacation.
Simona Malkovska
English version edited by Michale Bluhm
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. The
subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated. Send them
please to the address:
CAROLINA@cuni.cz
To subscribe to CAROLINA news you send an e-mail message to the address
LISTSERV@listserv.cesnet.cz
The text of message for subscription of the English version must be:
SUBSCRIBE CAR-ENG First name Last name
or for the Czech version
SUBSCRIBE CAR-CS First name Last name
To delete your subscription from the list of subscribers you send
the following message to the address LISTSERV@listserv.cesnet.cz:
SIGNOFF CAR-ENG or SIGNOFF CAR-CS
We ask you not to send automatic replies to our list. You can
temporarily stop receiving of Carolina by sending the command:
SET CAR-ENG NOMAIL
All Listserv commands should be sent to the address:
LISTSERV@listserv.cesnet.cz
Please, don't send commands SUB, SIGNOFF, NOMAIL etc to the address
CAR-CS@listserv.cesnet.cz or CAR-ENG@listserv.cesnet.cz!
